clamshell

noun clam·shell \ ˈklam-ˌshel \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of clamshell

1 : the shell of a clam

2 a : a bucket or grapple (as on a dredge) having two hinged jaws

b : an excavating machine having a clamshell

c : either of a pair of doors (as in an airplane tail) that open out and away from each other

d : a hinged container, case, or cover that opens like the shell of a clam

See clamshell defined for kids

Recent Examples of clamshell from the Web

Some bits—like the fabulous clamshell doors—will probably never see production.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "The car of the future is taking shape—and it will know how we feel about it," 11 Feb. 2018
Asus' NovaGo, in contrast, is a clamshell laptop with a 360-degree hinge to enable tablet-like operation.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "“Always Connected” Windows on ARM machines coming this quarter," 21 Feb. 2018
Additional feature points include a lightweight clamshell hood and front wheels that turn as much as 50 degrees to shrink the truck’s turning circle.

— tony markovich, Car and Driver, "2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD / 5500HD / 6500HD: Chassis Cab Flexin'," 9 Mar. 2018
The company focused on food packaging and received a lucrative contract from McDonald’s to manufacture the clamshell container used for the fast-food giant’s hamburgers.

— Washington Post, "Jon Huntsman Sr., Utah billionaire and philanthropist, dies at 80," 7 Mar. 2018
When paired with a Razer Phone that acts as its brain and touchpad, Linda can roar to life as a laptop that looks nearly identical to Razer's 'Blade' line of gaming clamshells.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "The Coolest New Laptop at CES Is Actually a Phone," 9 Jan. 2018
Some 6,000 people a year go to the ER with wounds from trying to pry, slice, or stab open gifts entombed in stupid clamshell cases.

— jennifer jolly, USA TODAY, "Save time and quit swearing: 10 tips to setting up your new tech devices," 22 Dec. 2017
Two amorous bears scoot up a solid rock face and canoodle by a waterfall; a loner lies face-down on the beach, a pile of empty clamshells stacked beside him like crumpled beer cans.

— neil ever osborne, Smithsonian, "A Paradise for Grizzly Bears Gets an Up-Close Look," 24 Oct. 2017
According to David Hill, who until his recent retirement led ThinkPad design for over 20 years, the first ThinkPad wasn't a clamshell at all — its original design involved a tablet with a stylus.

— Time, "Why Lenovo's ThinkPad Still Matters 25 Years Later," 9 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clamshell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.